The Feast day of St. Joseph the Worker

In 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted May 1st as the liturgical feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, proclaiming him Patron of Workers. This was done to connect Christian spirituality with International Workers' Day and counter secular or communist interpretations of labor, emphasizing the dignity of work.

Pope Pius XII chose May 1st specifically to coincide with International Workers' Day, also known as May Day. While International Workers' Day had become associated with secular and political movements, particularly communist celebrations, the Church aimed to reclaim the meaning of work, center it on Christ, and present St. Joseph as a model for all laborers.

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En 1955, el papa Pío XII instituyó el 1 de mayo como la fiesta litúrgica de San José Obrero, proclamándolo Patrono de los trabajadores. Esto se hizo con el fin de vincular la espiritualidad cristiana con el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores y contrarrestar las interpretaciones laicas o comunistas del trabajo, enfatizando la dignidad de este.

El papa Pío XII eligió el 1 de mayo específicamente para que coincidiera con el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores, también conocido como el Primero de Mayo. Si bien el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores se había asociado con movimientos laicos y políticos —particularmente con las celebraciones comunistas—, la Iglesia buscaba reivindicar el sentido del trabajo, centrarlo en Cristo y presentar a San José como modelo para todos los trabajadores.

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Joseph, by the work of your hands

and the sweat of your brow,

you supported Jesus and Mary,

and had the Son of God as your fellow worker.

Teach me to work as you did,

with patience and perseverance, for God and

for those whom God has given me to support.

Teach me to see in my fellow workers

the Christ who desires to be in them,

that I may always be charitable and forbearing

towards all.

Grant me to look upon work

with the eyes of faith,

so that I shall recognize in it

my share in God’s own creative activity

and in Christ’s work of our redemption,

and so take pride in it.

When it is pleasant and productive,

remind me to give thanks to God for it.

And when it is burdensome,

teach me to offer it to God,

in reparation for my sins

and the sins of the world.

(Note: This prayer was taken from the booklet “Devotions to Saint Joseph” by Brian Moore, S.J., printed and published by the Society of St. Paul.)